New tackle laws are having a positive effect on concussion

There has been a reduction in the number of concussions recorded by World Rugby due to the new tackle laws, according to Ross Tucker.

He joined Thursday's #OTBAM to discuss the new findings, telling Ger: "The conference is our annual medical meeting and we discuss, among other things, concussion obviously being the hot button.

"We have data now from the world's major club competitions and certainly we previously saw an increase every single year in the concussion numbers. For the first time, and this is true across all competitions, it's either leveled off or come down.

"So we're encouraged by that but we also understand that one season alone is not enough because there's so many other things changing.

"At those under-20 championships earlier this year, we saw a 50% reduction in the concussions but it's only a 15 match tournament so we're encouraged enough to say we're heading in the right direction but we have to constantly reinforce the message because, as you know, every single week, it seems like there's a controversy about a card or a sanction and there's considerable push-back from one side and pushing forward from the other.

"So, trying to manage some of those tensions is the main challenge at this stage - working towards consistency of sanction.

"But, we're confident enough we're going in the right direction. Whether we're going fast enough is another question," he added.

Listen back to Thursday's #OTBAM here:

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